Examination and parameterization of the root water uptake model from stem water potential and sap flow measurements

Yuting Yang, Huade Guan, John Hutson, Hailong Wang, Caecilia Ewenz, Songhao Shang, Craig Simmons

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A simple field-based method for directly parameterizing root water uptake models is proposed. Stem psychrometers and sap flow meters are used to measure stem water potential and plant transpiration rate continuously and simultaneously. Predawn stem water potential is selected as a surrogate for root zone soil water potential to examine and parameterize the root water uptake-water stress response functions. The method is applied to two drooping sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) trees for a period of 80 days, covering both a dry season and a wet season. The results indicate that the S-shape function is more appropriate than the Feddes piecewise linear function for drooping sheoak to represent the effect of soil moisture stress on its root water uptake performance. Besides, the water stress function is found to be not only a function of soil moisture but also dependent of the atmospheric demand. As a result, the water stress function is corrected for the effect of atmospheric conditions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2857-2863
    Number of pages7
    JournalHydrological Processes
    Volume27
    Issue number20
    Early online date2013
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Sept 2013

    Keywords

    • Drooping sheoak
    • Parameterization
    • Root water uptake
    • Sap flow
    • Stem water potential

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